ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
United KingdomChanging Address at London Embassy

This sounds like a silly question...but couldn't he have applied for a mail redirection service when he moved? Royal Mail do this for you for a pretty good fee. You apply at the Post Office. I've used it many a time and have always been pleased with it.

Packet 3 would automatically be redirected to his new address then.


Hmm... we were under the impression that mail coming from the Embassy could not be forwarded.

I'll have him do that as well though, just to play it safe.

Thanks for all the advice :)
wasabisnackNot TellingUnited Kingdom2006-11-04 09:51:00
United KingdomChanging Address at London Embassy
Hi everyone. I know this has probably been asked before, but I did a search and nothing that matched turned up.

Basically, I'd like to change my husband's address. He moved yesterday and we want him to get packt 3, naturally. I know we have some time before that stage, but better to be prepared.

I tried changing it with USCIS, but they were incredibly unhelpful. NVC has not gotten our case yet, so I will keep trying them there.

However, USCIS has told me on two separate occassions now that our case could be sent to the consulate before being sent to NVC (which seems so backwards to me and I keep thinking both operators must be wrong!)

I want to cover ourselves and make sure things go smoothly. When I emailed the Consulate(Londonconsular@state.gov), I got an automated response stating that if I was not told to use the email address, I would receive no further information from them...

Has anyone experienced anything similar? Should I send a formal letter to NVC and London Embassy just to be safe or is that crazy??

Thanks, in advance and again, for helping me maintain sanity in this process.
wasabisnackNot TellingUnited Kingdom2006-11-03 12:00:00
United KingdomShipping Advice

we did not need the Visa for the shipping


John & Annie,

Who did you ship through?

Thanks everyone for your input!!

Kristina
wasabisnackNot TellingUnited Kingdom2006-10-31 12:57:00
United KingdomShipping Advice

Yep, they need a photocopy of your passport AND visa.


Thank you for the advice :)
wasabisnackNot TellingUnited Kingdom2006-10-31 07:11:00
United KingdomShipping Advice

I dont know about that.

there is a thread that went into deatail a while back. You might want to "search" for it.

They said 6 weeks for somthing to the west coast and it took 10-12. So, if your sure it is nothing you are going to miss, plan early.


Why would it be a bad idea to ship before hand?

My husband is moving this weekend from his apartment and staying with friends for a bit. Rather than putting things in storage, I thought it best to just ship it to me as we will be living at my place.

Will search for the thread, thanks!
wasabisnackNot TellingUnited Kingdom2006-10-30 16:46:00
United KingdomShipping Advice
Can anyone recommend a company/way to ship your stuff from the UK to the US?

Also, I read in another post that you have to wait untill you have your k3 visa to ship your stuff. Is this true??

Thanks, again!!
wasabisnackNot TellingUnited Kingdom2006-10-30 14:43:00
United KingdomKeeping UK Job
Hi.

My husband freelances and he hopes to continue working for places in the UK after moving to the US on a K3 visa.

My questions are:

(1) Is this allowed?!?

(2) Has anyone done something similar?

If someone has experience with this, I would love to ask more specific questions about filling out forms and such, because we don't want to lie or make a mistake.

Thanks very much!

Kristina
wasabisnackNot TellingUnited Kingdom2006-11-11 19:05:00
United KingdomWhen to give in the affidavit?
Hi everyone.

I'm a little confused about when we hand in out affidavit of support. Up until recently, I was under the impression you give it in at the interview. Then I read a post saying you mail it in with the forms that come in packet 3. I've also heard of people doing both, to be safe, and/or that it varies from country to country...

Just curious what other people going through the London Embassy did when applying for the K3 visa.

Thanks very much for your help.

Best,
Kristina and Phillip
wasabisnackNot TellingUnited Kingdom2006-11-20 10:38:00
United KingdomI134 Question

Immigration attorneys do it all the time - they print things on funny coloured paper as well - and they have special 'blue out' and 'green out' for the forms.


Thanks everyone!
wasabisnackNot TellingUnited Kingdom2007-01-24 09:38:00
United KingdomI134 Question
Hi.

My mother recently filled out the I134, affidavit of support to cosponser my husband on his K3 Visa.

She mailed it to me, so I can mail it over to London with mine.


Problem: She used white out on one of the lines, then wrote over it.


I've read mixed things about this. Has anyone used white out and had it be okay?


Should I have her redo it and mail it to me?

Thanks,
Kristina
wasabisnackNot TellingUnited Kingdom2007-01-22 13:26:00
United KingdomNOA2 Expires

We got our interview date today (SO EXCITED).

It's scheduled for March 5th, but our NOA2 expires on February 25th. Is there something we need to do to get it extended? Are there any cases where an earlier interview date was given to beat the NOA2 expiration? (I'm sure I read something like that happening, but not sure where).

Just wondering what others' experiences were like.

-Kristina and Phillip

(I'm sure this is a repeat question. I did a quick search but didn't find an answer. Thanks for your help and sorry for asking a question, if it's been asked a million times before!)


The consulate can extend validity period for another 4 mos.



Thanks, is there something we need to do to have that done OR does it happen automatically?
wasabisnackNot TellingUnited Kingdom2007-01-31 10:32:00
United KingdomNOA2 Expires
We got our interview date today (SO EXCITED).

It's scheduled for March 5th, but our NOA2 expires on February 25th. Is there something we need to do to get it extended? Are there any cases where an earlier interview date was given to beat the NOA2 expiration? (I'm sure I read something like that happening, but not sure where).

Just wondering what others' experiences were like.

-Kristina and Phillip

(I'm sure this is a repeat question. I did a quick search but didn't find an answer. Thanks for your help and sorry for asking a question, if it's been asked a million times before!)
wasabisnackNot TellingUnited Kingdom2007-01-31 10:24:00
United KingdomInterview Today - Confused About Outcome
Hi.

My husband had his interview this morning in London for his K3 Visa.

He said it went well (though a whole lot of waiting around!), but at the end they just said "everything seems to be okay, unless something goes wrong with your figerprints." They took his passport and that was sort of it.

Is this the common way it goes? Guess we were sort of hoping to hear a 'congratulations' or a definite 'you've been approved.' Just curious about other people's experiences.

Thanks so much, as always, for your help and input.

Best,
Kristina and Phillip
wasabisnackNot TellingUnited Kingdom2007-03-05 08:36:00
United KingdomBank Account Question
My husband's K3 Visa came in the mail today :)

We are wondering what others have done regarding switching bank accounts.

Was anyone able to keep their UK bank and have access (without a ton of fees) in the US?

Are there any banks that are in both the US/UK?

I know he'd need to have a SSN to open an account here. Just wondering what people did in the meantime.

Just wondering if people could share their experiences.

Sorry if there is info/posts on this already, I tried searching but it kept saying the feature was down.

Thanks!

Kristina
wasabisnackNot TellingUnited Kingdom2007-03-08 11:04:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects

They are in revoked status. That is what it is called. Yes they have been recalled, but placed under administrative revoked status. With the consession that they are not permanently revoked pending a time limit set on us (later) to send back the RFE. If they do not recieve the RFE, or the person that has had their visa returned doesn't get the notice in time to fulfill the RFE, them's the breaks and they have to start all over.


Which is what happens to anyone who is RFE'd for anything. And they have not had a VISA returned, it is a PETITION FOR A VISA APPLICATION.

Yes, the recall post-approval is unusual, not to mention frustrating and unfortunate for those whom it affects. But it is not the same as a petition actually being revoked, which typically happens post-interview, if a CO makes a finding that either the petitioner, the beneficiary, or both misrepresented themselves in the petition. The CO does not actually do the revoking, but can send the petition back to the States with a NOIR (Notice of Intent to Revoke).

Which is also different from a visa being denied without revocation of the initial petition. Which also can happen.

Edited by pax, 05 June 2006 - 03:35 PM.

paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-05 15:33:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects
I understand that you don't know me from Eve, but to call me, or Yodrak, lackadaisical just shows your own ignorance of the facts of the matter.

For that matter, so does saying that we're "trolling." Trolling is harassment, or intentionally disseminating misleading or untrue information. I am doing neither. I'm not even playing devil's advocate. I'm saying that what we seem to have here is a lot of confusion, a lot of anger, and a lot of disorganization...none of which will add up to productive change in law or policy when there is in fact no substantive argument to be made for a violation of civil liberties.

I won't call myself any kind of expert in this, but Yodrak knows more about the immigration process than most folks here, and dissing him really lowers the quality of your argument to longtime VJers. Again, IMO.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-05 15:27:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects

once you have NOA2, it's an approval. Those that have had it approved are in revokation status. However, it's a special consession that is being made to run an RFE on the Visa's that had been approved past the march 6th deadline. Some, actually are finding their final interviews canceled until further notice. Others even finished everything and were waiting for the visa in the mail, but had it canceled. Meanwhile they had quit their job in preparation to move, which is about as bad as it can get.


Please tell us where visas have been cancelled—actual visas, not approved petitions.

Second of all, the petitions have not been revoked. That's a whole other process. They've been recalled.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-05 15:21:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects

I do hope you two wake up a bit and lay off the kool-aid.


Yodrak,

Did you know we were supposed to get Kool-Aid? Hell, if I'd known, I'd have signed up for this whole immigration thing YEARS ago.

pax

***

To our intrepid defender of human rights:

Please tell me, again, which civil liberties are being violated.

Also please explain to me how you intend to get a class-action lawsuit against the government off the ground before the problem is actually resolved—which, from everything I've read, should be happening fairly soon.

Finally, please tell me how telling you that you're wasting your time on this one amounts to a claim that everything is "hunky dory" in the United States.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-05 15:16:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects
Sorry if I find this all a bit too pie-in-the-sky. No one's civil liberties are being violated here. No one is being told that he or she can't marry the person of his or her choice; no one is being told that a criminal record or past marriage(s) on the part of the petitioner is grounds for denial of a visa petition; no one is being forced to disclose information that wouldn't be disclosed in a similar background check for a job or the like.

I'm sure that it's possible for a lawsuit to be filed, but I'm not at all convinced that it would succeed. That's if it even makes it to trial. Any claim that civil liberties are being violated is sure to fail, since it seems to me that the government is making sure that due process is being followed. And, again, no one is being denied anything at this stage of the game, and from what I can tell, no one WILL be denied on any basis that they wouldn't have been before IMBRA existed.

If I were a lawyer, I'd tell you to keep your money and take up a nice relaxing hobby until this all blows over. Which it will.

IMHO.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-05 14:55:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects
Ah, I see.

Well, in that case, I'm not exactly sure what you're going to sue for; that is, what kind of damages you're going to claim and how you'd collect them. But I don't think you can sue the government simply because you're angry/annoyed/frustrated. Well, you probably can, but I don't know how much chance of success you'll have.

In a civil suit, as far as I know in my non-lawyerly ways, a plaintiff has to prove that the actions on the part of a defendant were either willful or sufficiently negligent, and that the damages caused are specific and quantifiable.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-05 13:32:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects
What, exactly, are y'all planning to sue for? Just out of curiosity.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-05 13:12:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects
Well, that makes a bit more sense. Poor planning and even worse execution I can believe; total ignorance I can't.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-05 12:35:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects
The situation is sad, badly organized, and poorly executed. Maybe not total bull #######, but definitely burdensome, to say the least, for the people involved.

What is total bull ####### is the proposition that DHS had zero idea—none at all!—about the existence of the law prior to May 6. Shoot, the peons here at VJ knew about it long before then, so it must have been common knowledge, n'est-ce pas?
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-05 12:25:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects

I had to even actually provide a copy of the law for them to even come to know of it's existance. This law has been implemented so underhandedly, that not even the DHS knew about it until the memorandum was released on May 6th. Seriously!


Sorry, but that's total bull #######.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-05 12:16:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects
No attitude necessary! :thumbs:

Your example illustrates precisely why USCIS and DoS urge K-1 applicants not to make concrete wedding plans until the visa process is complete. Not to mention that your example is really a case of apples and oranges. But there's no need to get into all the intricacies as to why.

Edited by pax, 05 June 2006 - 09:22 AM.

paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-05 09:21:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects



I liken to to if you went to the DMV to renew your driver's license and they told you that there is a new written driving test but they haven't created it yet and they don't know when they will. So in the meantime, even though you maybe committed to a cross country drive and you are leaving on Friday, you cannot drive and they cannot tell you when you will be able to...


Which begs the question of why one planned a cross-country drive without a driver's license.


Read carefully - my example was if you went to RENEW a driver's license BEFORE a cross country trip.

It was just an example for the current situation we are all in due to DHS' incompetence.


:huh: The question remains the same.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-05 09:03:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects

I liken to to if you went to the DMV to renew your driver's license and they told you that there is a new written driving test but they haven't created it yet and they don't know when they will. So in the meantime, even though you maybe committed to a cross country drive and you are leaving on Friday, you cannot drive and they cannot tell you when you will be able to...


Which begs the question of why one planned a cross-country drive without a driver's license.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-05 07:55:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects
I'm no expert in international business law, but it seems to me that businesses that operate to serve American customers does need to abide by American law. For example, I'm familiar with a cosmetics company based in Hong Kong that will pay Customs fees for any of the goods that I purchase from them as a courtesy to me, or to any international customer, as they ship all over the world. Thus, if the company wants to do business with Americans, they must see that American customs fees are paid. If they didn't pay the fee, I would have to do so—either way that fee has to be paid.

Car companies that build cars in Germany, Japan, Mexico, wherever have to conform to American safety standards if they want to sell their cars in the States. If they don't want to do so, that's fine, but then they are shut out of the American market.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-02 12:47:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects

Well in this gentlemens case they may not operate in the US. If I'm a Russian business person and operate a dating website in Russia how that accept clients from all over the world how are you going to make me conform??????? There are MANY of such!


I don't know. But not knowing how they'll enforce the law on the business isn't the same as assuming that the law won't or can't be enforced.

Moreover, surely word gets around among the young women who use these services...if one service screens the American gentlemen who patronize it quite carefully and gives the women good information, and another doesn't, it stands to reason that the law-abiding business will most likely thrive and survive, while the other does not.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-02 12:33:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects

So logic says this agency would be grandfathered from complying since they met before Januarary 2006. Also, I don't believe IMBRA is enforceable to a foreign entity (agency).


Businesses that operate in the United States must comply with American law, even if they're foreign-owned, so I'm not sure how you figure that IMBRA won't be enforceable.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-02 11:57:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects
Au contraire. Your foreign sweetie has to obtain a police certificate to obtain her visa, yes? And if there's anything in her past much worse than a speeding ticket, you're going to know about it, because she'd have to then file a waiver to get the visa.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-02 08:56:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects

Well, from what I read it all seems pretty straight forward. If you have been convicted for any of the mentioned crimes you need to provide police records with the petition. This information will be provided to the beneficiary for awareness. I read a post earlier asking if the government would be denying approval based on past convictions. I feel this would be highly unconstitutional and would create a huge uproar for later law suites. Thus this information is to be provided to the beneficiary for a better clue as to the person she is getting involved with. "we as americans have the right to marry whom we want" regardless of any past crime or conviction. From what I read everything should be picking up again soon.


Precisely. The petition will not be denied on such a basis; rather, the beneficiary will have the choice whether or not to go forward, fully apprised of anything in his or her partner's past. If the beneficiary trusts that the petitioner will not repeat such behavior, then he or she is free to continue to pursue the visa.

And of course, if the petitioner has been honest with the beneficiary from the get go, then there ought not be a problem.

Right?
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-02 07:57:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects
I'm not really sure what the other negative effects are going to be. Note that, for example, if a petitioner does have a black mark or two in his past, it does not mean that the petition will be denied, only that the beneficiary must be informed.

A great example might be a middle-aged gentleman who was involved in a bar brawl as a careless youth. If he was charged with assault, that doesn't mean he's a violent, horrible, potential abuser who should never have a chance to bring his fiancee to the States—it means that she will be apprised of the situation and she can decide whether or not her fiance is a reformed man. If she is comfortable with his past, she is free to decide to go forth with the process, fully aware of who her partner is and what her rights are if things turn sour.

Note too that Americans are required to submit to background checks for many, if not most, jobs; for federal student aid; for mortgages; etc. etc. etc. No one here is suggesting that if a certain job required a background check, he or she would refuse to submit to it. IMBRA, at the end of the day, is designed to make sure that foreign partners, primarily women I suspect, know what they're getting themselves into. No one's hand is being forced and no one's privacy is being invaded.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-06-01 13:01:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects

:lol: I know, I thought you were showing it to me as if what I posted was unfounded. :P

Although it´s in review the one thing I liked about it is that it says it´s in emergency review, which shows that at least they´re trying to put it up fast, this new form, and from what I understood, it seems they might make it e-fillable or something, to faster receive and process it.


:lol: I think we have some wires crossed...I'm sure what you posted is fine! The TRO is unrelated.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-05-30 12:18:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects
Um, I didn't say that your post was about the TRO. However, the thread that I posted was. ;)
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-05-30 12:15:00
IMBRA Special TopicsLets collect some information about IMBRA effects
Please see this now-locked thread regarding the denial of the TRO against the IMBRA.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-05-30 12:10:00
USCIS Service CentersI'm back - for awhile anyway!
MOOOOOOOOOOJOOOOOOOOOOOO for Munchkins! :D
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-03-08 09:36:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Waiver approved!!!!
Awww, great news! Congratulations. (F)
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-01-30 08:32:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Not sure if a waiver will be necessary?
Amen.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-03-29 11:57:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)Not sure if a waiver will be necessary?

IF your man has a conviction then he was arrested and charged and that is a CMT,as my wife said earlier in this post,I had several convictions of various types on my police record,from theft to assault and we got our waiver together a couple of months in advance as we was 99% sure we would need it,when I had interview in Vancouver(on a side note has anyone traveled farther for interview 5500 miles?)and the guy was pretty cool about it all looked at all my stuff and picked the last one,bit of a serious assault and denied me on that one alone so there you go but I am reminded of the case of Liam who got caught and charged with theft(4 cans of lager) and a breach of the peace I think and he got his visa only to be turned away at the POE and told to get a waiver for his crimes so if I was you I would prepare for the worst and if nothing happens then your home and dry,but if something does then you are ready there and then,but I strongly advise you NOT to hold anything back as it might come back and bite you later,anyways best of luck


What? Some periods could help.

We're not talking about a pattern of convictions for theft and assault. We're talking about what are more likely arrests and cautions, rather than convictions. I'm sorry you had to file a waiver, but don't induce panic in someone else whose situation is not comparable to your own. Plenty of applicants in the UK and Ireland have had similar spots on their police records, have subsequently disclosed the nature of the offenses at the interview, and have not had to file waivers.

Liam's case was one in a million, and not likely to be repeated. His situation was complicated by medical problems as well. There's no basis among these three cases--yours, Liam's, and the OP's--for a fair comparison.
paxFemaleUnited Kingdom2006-03-29 11:40:00